GERD and Heartburn Treatment in Houston Heights

That burning sensation in your chest after a meal. The sour taste creeping up your throat. The discomfort that keeps you awake at night. If heartburn has become a regular part of your life rather than an occasional annoyance, you may be dealing with something more than simple indigestion. At Houston Injury and Wellness Clinic, we help patients in Houston Heights and throughout the Houston area find relief from chronic heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What Is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chronic digestive condition that occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus—the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach. This backwash, called acid reflux, irritates the lining of the esophagus and causes the uncomfortable symptoms associated with heartburn.

Everyone experiences occasional acid reflux, especially after a large meal or when lying down too soon after eating. But when reflux happens frequently—typically twice a week or more—and interferes with your daily life, it’s considered GERD.

Left untreated, the constant exposure to stomach acid can damage the esophageal lining, leading to complications like inflammation, narrowing of the esophagus, or changes to the cells that increase the risk of esophageal cancer.

Causes and Risk Factors

GERD develops when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscle that acts as a valve between your esophagus and stomach, becomes weakened or relaxes inappropriately. When this happens, stomach contents can flow backward into the esophagus.

Several factors can contribute to GERD or make symptoms worse. These include being overweight or obese, which puts pressure on the abdomen, pregnancy, hiatal hernia where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, smoking, eating large meals or eating late at night, consuming certain trigger foods and beverages, lying down soon after eating, and certain medications including aspirin, ibuprofen, and some blood pressure drugs.

Common dietary triggers include spicy foods, fatty or fried foods, tomato-based products, citrus fruits, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages. However, triggers vary from person to person, and what bothers one individual may not affect another.

Symptoms of GERD

The hallmark symptom of GERD is heartburn—a burning discomfort that typically starts behind the breastbone and may move up toward the throat. But GERD can cause a range of symptoms beyond classic heartburn.

Common symptoms include burning chest pain that often worsens after eating or when lying down, regurgitation of food or sour liquid into your throat, difficulty swallowing or feeling like food is stuck, chronic cough especially at night, hoarseness or sore throat particularly in the morning, sensation of a lump in your throat, and disrupted sleep due to nighttime symptoms.

Some people experience atypical symptoms like chest pain that mimics heart problems, chronic throat clearing, worsening asthma symptoms, or dental erosion from acid exposure. These less obvious presentations can make GERD harder to recognize.

When to See a Doctor

You should see a doctor for heartburn symptoms if you experience heartburn more than twice a week, over-the-counter antacids provide only temporary relief, you have difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, you experience unexplained weight loss, you have persistent nausea or vomiting, or your symptoms interfere with sleep or daily activities.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, jaw pain, or arm pain, as these could indicate a heart problem rather than GERD.

How We Diagnose GERD

At Houston Injury and Wellness Clinic, we start by listening to your symptoms and understanding how they affect your life. For many patients, a detailed history and description of symptoms is enough to diagnose GERD and begin treatment.

We’ll ask about the frequency and severity of your symptoms, what triggers them, what provides relief, and whether you’ve tried any treatments already. We also review your medical history, medications, diet, and lifestyle factors that might be contributing to your symptoms.

In some cases, if symptoms are severe, don’t respond to initial treatment, or suggest possible complications, we may recommend additional testing or refer you to a gastroenterologist for procedures like upper endoscopy or pH monitoring.

Treatment Options

Effective GERD management typically involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and when necessary, medications. Our goal is to relieve your symptoms, heal any damage to your esophagus, and prevent complications.

Lifestyle Modifications

Simple changes can make a significant difference in GERD symptoms. We recommend eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than large ones, avoiding eating within two to three hours of bedtime, elevating the head of your bed six to eight inches, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking if you smoke, and wearing loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t put pressure on your abdomen.

Dietary Adjustments

Identifying and avoiding your personal trigger foods is key. While common triggers include spicy, fatty, and acidic foods, your triggers may be different. We help you recognize patterns and make sustainable dietary changes without unnecessary restriction.

Medications

Several types of medications can help control GERD symptoms. Antacids provide quick, short-term relief by neutralizing stomach acid. H2 blockers reduce acid production and work longer than antacids. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the most effective medications for GERD, significantly reducing acid production and allowing the esophagus to heal.

We discuss which medications are appropriate for your situation, how long to use them, and any potential side effects or interactions to watch for.

Ongoing Management

GERD is often a chronic condition that requires ongoing attention. We schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, adjust treatment as needed, and ensure your symptoms remain controlled.